Lycoris radiata ssp
James Waddick (Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:15:48 PDT)

Dear Carolo and all,
There are two subspecies of Lycoris radiata.

L. radiata ssp radiata is far more common and widely grown.
The plants is larger in all parts that the second ssp L. r. pumila
(as the name suggests), the plants are hardier and most notably
totally sterile. It is a triploid. They multiply prodigiously by
bulb division. It is wide spread in the wild and in cultivation. It
prefers damp to wet spots such as the edges of rice paddies in China
and Japan and swamp and stream edges elsewhere.

On the other hand L. radiata ssp pumila is overall smaller,
more tender by a Zone or 2 and they routinely produce fertile pea
size seed. This ssp. is a bit fussier to grow due to its more tender
constitution, some lack of vigor and smaller size.
This ssp is confined in the wild to SW to SE China (approx.) also in
damp shady spots. It hybridizes readily with various other Lycoris
species and produces some lovely hybrids passing its red color to F1
progeny.

Both usually bloom around Sept and Oct. It is among the last
to bloom here (in years when winters are mild enough and it actually
blooms). Could your Lycoris blooming now be some other species? Send
me a picture and I might be able to make a guess.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +